National Arena League On US Sports Net Presented by BBcom Jacksonville Sharks Turf Talk Episode 1

How Can You Improve Your Football Performance? From BBcom

Athletes Topic Of The Week

Injuries in football can arise in the blink of an eye so it is important to be fully prepared for playing the sport. Get information about improving performance, ideas about drills and improving the diet. Check it out!

TOPIC: How Can You Improve Your Football Performance?
The Question:
Football is one mean sport. A serious injury could arise in the blink of an eye. It’s important to be fully prepared to play football. Long hard days of practice need to be completed to be prepared for the adventures of the football sport.
How can you improve your football performance? Be specific.
What are some key drills to run?
What type of diet is good for a football player?
Bonus Question: For the average guy, about how much training do you think is necessary until they can be in "football condition?"
Show off your knowledge to the world!
The Winners:

1. PolPow53 View Profile

Prizes:
1st place - 75 in store credit.

1st Place - PolPow53
Football is one mean sport. A serious injury could arise in the blink of an eye. It's important to be fully prepared to play football. Long hard days of practice need to be completed to be prepared for the adventures of the football sport.

How Can You Improve Your Football Performance?

Football is a diverse sport, and because of this diversity, the most important facet of football preparation is balance, figuratively of course, yet literal balance training is important as well.
Too many football players have an obsession. Now some may say, "Obsessed is a word the lazy use to describe the dedicated," yet this obsession is blind, if you will. A receiver may get it ingrained in his mind that without a sub 4.5 40 time, he will never amount to anything, or a lineman may think that under 300lbs he is worthless. And while these superficial goals may be great, they should not cloud or worse yet, devour the other important parts of football.

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Dedication Vs. Obsession. I want you to avoid obsessive interest because only then will you actually have the chance to achieve your natural physique and strength potential. Learn why and the difference between dedication and obsession ... [ Click here to learn more. ]

Football success hinges on a combination of three basic parts:

1. Football Specific Skills
2. Athleticism (Speed, agility, acceleration, jumping ability)
3. Power (Strength, bodyweight/size, explosiveness)

All these parts have their place in a football player. Of course, position specific specifications exist, a quarterback is much more skill reliant than a center, for example.
The key to increasing football performance is being able to balance all these parts for one's position. No one ever gets anywhere without working hard to develop each individual characteristic of their game.
1. Football Specific Skills:

For football specific skills, it is best to use the drills provided by a coach to polish skills crucial to the position. Most positional coaches will be more than happy to help you out, especially if you come in the off-season asking for advice.

RELATED ARTICLE

Off-Season Football Training: A Sample Program. In this article we will talk about a 3 day per week routine that centers around squatting and pulling. If you weren't gaining before then this will be your ticket to gain mass and strength. [ Click here to learn more. ]

2. Athleticism:

To increase athleticism, it is most efficient to utilize a system of sprints, plyometrics, agility ladders and other various drills that stress athletic movements. Basically anything that stresses an athletic motion done at a blistering pace will improve athletic ability. Athletic ability will also improve drastically and automatically with a body fat % decrease.

3. Power:

A traditional, yet hybrid weight training and diet program can build power. Football players should lift heavy using the compound movements as the base of their programs, with an added focus on protein amount in their diet to improve their lean muscle mass and increase overall power. Once athletes start becoming more advanced, a supplement like a form of creatine can be a good idea.

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The Football Player Of Today: A Grid Iron Machine! Football is probably the most physically demanding sport on the playing field today. It requires a combination of speed, strength, power, agility and mental toughness. [ Click here to learn more. ]

What Are Some Key Drills To Run?

It is truly impossible to say what drills are key to run because of the diversity of the positions in football. With nearly ten different positions on offense and defense, there is no cure-all drill. Some good drills to participate in are anything that utilizes the fundamental skills of the game.

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Agility stations, for example, work quick feet, and every position can use that. Almost all football players will be using some form of hip explosion, so a drill that stresses that, along with form tackling will always be beneficial. On the offensive side, drills for good blocking form are a good idea, along with drills that stress the proper way to carry a football and evade or take on tacklers when with it.
Overall, any drill that stresses one or more of the basic skills involved in one's position is a good idea to run at some point, especially if it is in the off-season and done with no contact as a preparation for the actual season.

What Type Of Diet Is Good For A Football Player?

A football player's diet should be constructive, not destructive. Football players often become too obsessed with dietary goals and go on binge diets. Some will not eat a gram of fat, or better yet, they will go low-carb, while others that seek to gain weight will start eating cakes and pastries.

WHAT'S YOUR GOAL?

Click Below To Learn More About Goal Setting. [ Goal Setting ]

A football diet has to stress good healthy foods eaten in small meals throughout the day to help build lean muscle or burn fat. The result is determined by the total caloric intake for the day.
Some good food choices include:

• Milk
• Cottage cheese
• Lean beef
• Lean chicken
• Lean pork
• Other lean meats
• Oatmeal
• Brown rice
• Whole wheat grains
• Eggs
• Whey protein
• Vegetables
• Fruits

Bonus Question: For the average guy, about how much training do you think is necessary until they can be in "football condition?"

To be honest, little needs to be done to get back into football condition because football is a sport where form needs to be kept all year long. A year long trainee can get back into shape in 2 weeks. While someone who did not train at all can get in the cardiovascular condition to play football, they will be useless because of the lack of the aforementioned balances preparation needed to succeed in the sport of football.
I personally do little to get ready for the season to get back into "football condition," yet my insanely intense training year round prepares me automatically for the grueling months.

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Athletes Topic Of The Week

Athletic training, of the week, getting bigger, stronger, faster, library of info, pro training secrets, football, baseball, migual cabrara

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BBcom Featuring: Leg Day Booty Workout | Alyssa Polisano and a Brand new Brazilian Butt Lift Workout

Build a booty you'll love with this complete leg workout from Primeval Labs athlete and IPE Bikini Pro Alyssa Polisano. 
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Ladies, I understand the struggle: Building a booty you can be proud of is hard work! I wasn't genetically gifted with a round bottom, so I have to work my glutes extra hard in the pursuit of a bubble butt. 

Today, I'm going to let you in on one of my favorite workouts to target your tush. For this workout, your reps should be in the 10-20 range. If you're able to push out any more than 20 reps, bump up the weight you're using, or increase the difficulty. Make modifications if needed, but don't cheat yourself. Integrate this workout into your routine twice a week, resting a day between workouts. 

 Now let's build some buns! 

 | Alyssa Plisano's Leg Day Booty Workout |
1. Squats 
2. Lunges 
3. Stiff Leg Deadlifts 
4. Hip Thrusts 
5. Sissy Squats 

Get more "Bootylicous" tips and secrets................

Brand new Brazilian Butt Lift Workout

By: Nicole Gladwell A whole new direction in home health and fitness is combining entertaining dance movements to get fit. Leandro Carvalho developed a hot innovative Brazil Butt Lift work out that's taking the country by storm. The Brazil Butt Lift workout works by using patented TriAngle moves that Leandro discovered that firm, round and lift up the butt quickly

Leandro Carvalho developed the fresh new Brazil Butt Lift workout program. Leandro, a Brazil native is a famous fitness instructor and personal training expert who lives in New York City. He moved to the United States to dance with a number of of the most prestigious dance companies in NYC. He then transitioned into incorporating dance techniques with fitness. He trained in physical fitness and received several certifications in the area and then began to teach his popular Brazilian Groove routines at Equinox. His classes ended up being an instant hit and he was awarded New York Magazine's award of "Best Fitness Class". His Brazil Butt Lift home work out DVD has just been introduced to the public and uncovers his secret booty lifting techniques.

We wanted to discover how the Brazil Butt Lift work out was more advanced than classic fitness workouts. His secret TriAngle Training technique combines Brazilian dance techniques with more traditional techniques to completely sculpt the entire buttocks. The technique is so proprietary that it is patented. Basically, this method is able to work wonders on all three angles of the butt from all around and each and every angle to firm, lift and create the most perfect butt. Leandro personally trains some of the most famous supermodels including a well known Victoria's Secret model.

If your bottom is not the ideal shape his program has a personalized "booty-transformation" plan for you. His program comes with a helpful illustrated guidebook that shows you pictures that will help you figure out your current butt shape. After this you take the results of the quiz and he tells you which of his workout routines to focus on for your specific bottom shape to get the fastest results.

The program includes three DVDs with five different booty workout routines on them. The first video is a introduction to the "Basics" and teaches the program basics and basic moves and techniques (approx. twenty or so minutes). He also reveals his patented TriAngle training techniques to completely transform your butt. The Brazilian name for butt is "Bum Bum" and that is the name of his 1st work out. This workout consists of both butt firming and fat burning cardio in 35 minutes. The 3rd work out is called "High and Tight" and is thirty-five minutes long. It is targeted on sculpting your butt with the resistance bands and is created to focus on stubborn areas. The fourth workout is called "Sculpt", a fifty-minute, full body firming workout using weights to get you beautifully shaped. The 5th work out is a fast thirty-minute work out called "Cardio Axe". This work out features his signature dance move called the "axe" and is effective for fat burning and slimming.

 His Brazil Butt Lift workout package also comes with some extras to get started. The "Booty Makeover Guide" is a personalized booty planner that walks you through how to find your current butt shape and gives you a personalized plan to follow to achieve the round, high, tight butt of your dreams. This guide can help you discover if your bottom is pear-shaped, too flabby, too flat, or just too big, then shows you which workouts to concentrate on for the quickest results. The work out calendar that comes with the guidebook has places you are able to customize and fill in your individualized work out plan to keep you on track. The kit also comes with a Fat Burning Food Guide, a Six-Day Supermodel Slim Down Program, TriAngle Training Workout Cards, a tape measure and measurement tracker card, Booty Resistance Band and a Booty test pencil to help you see your improvement.

 Get the perfectly shaped butt of your dreams. Discover the hot cutting edge Brazilian Butt Lift Workout that's the Supermodel's hidden secret to a perfect bottom

The Truth About Cancer Featuring: Detoxifying (& Cheap!) Epsom Salt Bath Benefits and 10 Easy Ways to Help Beat Stress

Did you know that Epsom salt baths are a great way to destress and detoxify the entire body?

Unlike most naturally occurring salts, Epsom salts are formed from a pure mineral compound containing magnesium and sulfate. The human body has more than 325 enzymes that require magnesium to function optimally. 

Epsom salt baths benefit those suffering from inflammation or pain by pulling out the harmful toxins. You should NOT take Epsom salt baths if you are pregnant, have exposed cuts or burns on your skin, or are severely dehydrated. Plan on taking the Epsom salt bath for at least 40 minutes for optimal effects. Use roughly 1/2 cup of Epsom salts per 50 pounds of body weight. 

10 Easy Ways to Help Beat Stress

By: Elizabeth Boardman There are many ways to defeat stress - here are some ways to do so!

The number one way to fighting stress out is bathing with bath salts. Too much of stress and even adrenalin are believed to drain magnesium in our body; which works as a natural stress reliever. Magnesium regulates adequate amounts of serotonin. Serotonin is responsible for elevating our mood. The chemical within the brain creates the feeling of relaxation and well-being. While it increases your body's magnesium levels, Epsom salt will also deliver sulfates in your body, which are very difficult to get through food but can be directly absorbed by the skin.

The second way to fight stress, don't do too many things at once. Focusing on too many things at once brings you too much of stress. The best solution in this case, is you must focus on one thing at a time.

The third way to defeat it is avoid pushing too hard. If you push too hard to get the desired results, you will only damage your performance.

The fourth way in fighting it is, you must not ruminate. Meaning, you must avoid thinking about the negative things that had happened in your life during the past.

The fifth way is by just letting things flow. Just go with the flow, because being stressed will just bring you in creating some kind of unseen force. Besides, without any force, stress is absent. Thinking of the problems that already happened in your life will just put stress in you with force. That is why you just need to let it go and think that, "what's done is done".

The sixth way in defeating it is by taking control slowly. It is just like the second way of fighting stress, because if you do things in a rush thinking that there are so much work to follow, will just lead you to errors and will bring you a lot of stress.

Seventh way is putting things into perspective. Stress occurs when you believe that it is your fault when you are incapable of dealing with a bad situation.

The eight way is developing a release for the stress. When you are starting to feel like you are getting stressed, find a way to channel that energy in another way. You can either go to the gym, play sports, share problems and stories with your friends, or you can write it in a diary.

The ninth way is by adopting a process to get through a stressful time. It is one of the best ways to overcome stress. When everything is out of your control, you must learn to have a mindset, which is process-oriented.

The tenth way to defeat stress is to use Aromatherapy. Light some candles, incense, or take a bath (see #1) in scented salts. Aromatherapy products contain natural minerals and ingredients which helps people in reflecting and meditation in order to help them focus on their current state or problems.

 The San Francisco Bath Salt Company's slogan is "Relaxing The World One Bath at a Time". The company specializes in luxury bath salts for skincare and relaxation with the overall goal of improving health through bathing. The website is a powerful resource of information about bathing and contains many more articles and the daily bathing blog. For information visit http://www.sfbsc.com or visit the complete resource section on bathing go to http://www.sfbsc.com/resource-center

Police Activity On US Sports Net Presented By Tactical P.E. Featuring: Bodycam Shows Police Officer Saving Man From Burning House and The Need For Fire Safety Training In Businesses

** (Disclaimer: This video content is intended for educational and informational purposes only) ** Grass Valley, California — Grass Valley police released body camera footage showing a police officer rescuing a man from a burning house.

  Revolutionary Tactical Strength And Conditioning Program Provides A Simple Training Blueprint To Help Cops, Soldiers, And Prepared Citizens Gain Tactical Muscle

Officers were called to the home on East Empire Street for reports that a person was trapped inside on Feb. 18. Officers first checked the front of the home and were met with nothing but smoke and flames. Officer Jonathan Brown was running out of options when he made the decision to check inside a side door, according to the Grass Valley Police Chief Alex Gammelgard. That’s when he found the man, identified in the video as Corey, who lived there inside, on the ground. The officer is heard shouting the man's name, and kicking in a side door where he found Corey unconscious on the ground. He grabbed Corey's feet and dragged him out of the house "I got him," the officer is heard saying on the video. "Go get a medic!". The man had third-degree burns to his legs and may have burned his lungs, but medics got to him in time. He is still at the UC Davis Medical Center healing from severe burns but is in stable condition. Donate to PoliceActivity: https://www.patreon.com/PoliceActivity

The Need For Fire Safety Training In Businesses

By: Alexandr Grigoryev

Fire safety training is needed for all businesses and fire staff around the world because in a result of a fire whether it is employees at a business or firefighters they all need to know the correct procedures and actions that need to be taken. Every business organisation needs what is called a fire safety law and guidance document as a result of legislation that is related to the people responsible for a business premises. The building must be safe to work in and in case of a fire there must be sufficient fire exits and escape routes as well as fire alarms and good fire safety equipment; and of course, a first aid box. Regular check ups of the business by standards officers ensure that the fire legislation certificate is deserved otherwise the premises and the business more generally can be deemed as illegal. To undergo fire safety training most employers and employees will go on a course where they receive the skills and knowledge that they need in case of a fire breaking out. Also they will learn the procedures that need to be taken and the risks that are apparent when a fire breaks out. If the employer does not comply with the fire safety law and guidance legislation and continues to trade in the market then that business is considered illegal and should stopped immediately. If the employer of the business is caught without the legislation and is still trading then standards officers can shutdown the business at any time.   Revolutionary Tactical Strength And Conditioning Program Provides A Simple Training Blueprint To Help Cops, Soldiers, And Prepared Citizens Gain Tactical Muscle Also there are many different fire safety training brochures that are available to employers who want to update their knowledge of safety in the workplace and remind themselves of the procedures in case of a fire. Also if necessary they can apply to do another course if they do not feel confident at the time. It’s not all about knowledge for fire safety in the workplace however, emergency and contingency plans need to be in place if the procedures during a fire become complicated or are disrupted, this ensures maximum safety for the staff and customers at the work place at all times. The main element of the training includes the ability to safely evacuate the building without causing harm to any of the employees in the process. Also an important part is being able to tackle the fire to the best of their ability until professional help from the fire crews arrive. This can be fire blankets to fire extinguishers in the buildings which are necessary and are a necessity in any business environment to ensure safety of all people in the building. A very important part of the fire safety law and guidance legislation is the regular fire and risk assessment check. This can happen at any time to make sure that the business has got specific fire safety standards and the building is safe enough to work in and has got all the necessary safety precautions in place that pertain to fire exits around the building. The fire officer may also check the procedure the business takes when a fire occurs by making a mock situation of a fire. He can evaluate the performance and ability of the staff when evacuating the building and asses whether they have enough knowledge of what to do in case of a fire. From these results he can judge whether the business needs to make improvements to their procedures in case of a fire. Today fire safety training is a fundamental part of any businesses wider plans. Without relevant training the safety of staff members is put at risk and understandably the government legislation pertaining to fire safety attempts to ensure that all businesses are suitably safe. The hope is that eventually all businesses will have a safe working environment for their staff members. I'm owner website https://safetyworkblog.com

The Indoor Football League San Diego Strike Force vs Bismark Bucks High...

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Website Backup: The Added Security Layer All Businesses Need

BY SITELOCK

As a website owner, data loss can cause serious issues for your business. You can defend your site from the top cybercriminals, have the best hosting platform, and secure your platform with a strong password, but none of this is relevant if you aren’t performing website backups on a consistent basis. 

It’s essential that businesses of all sizes back up their websites. You rely on your website to promote your brand, attract clients, and perhaps even generate revenue via ecommerce capabilities. If you don’t back up your site, you risk losing thousands of hours of your website content in a single moment. How do you put a price tag on irrecoverable data loss? You can’t!

In order to ensure long-term success online, today’s businesses need to invest in a comprehensive security strategy that includes a web application firewall (WAF), DDoS protection, malware detection and removal, vulnerability patching, and backup. Website backup provides the added security layer all businesses need to quickly recover from data loss that can significantly hurt your business.

In this post, you’ll learn why website backup is a critical piece of any comprehensive disaster recovery plan, and how to choose a backup solution that will protect your website data 24/7.

Why do you need website backup?

Backing up your website regularly is crucial for preventing data loss. If a cyberattack or other unexpected incident causes corruption to your website files – or worse – eliminates them altogether, it can permanently damage your business if you have no way of recovering them.

Having a backup solution in place can safeguard the most important components of your website in the event of unexpected circumstances such as:

• Human Error: An unfortunate reality is that it only takes one wrong click for your site’s valuable files to vanish. Human error is a common culprit for how critical website data can be lost. This can occur if a member of your team accidently deletes an important file or submits a faulty MySQL command. If these missteps take place, your website data can be altered or lost altogether.
• Software Updates: Practicing good cyber-hygiene is essential for any website owner. Keeping your content management system (CMS) up to date is the top recommendation security providers advise to prevent cyberattacks. However, software updates can wipe out entire design customizations or break dependencies on your website, which can result in permanent downtime.
• Hardware Failures: If your local computer crashes or your hard drive gets damaged, it can cause important offsite website backups to be lost forever, including any site backups you’ve saved locally. Storing backups on your web server is also risky because you can lose your site data and backups if your server’s hard drive fails.

• Malware Attacks: A malware attack can damage your website’s performance or take it offline entirely. Sometimes, malware damages site files beyond repair. Without website backup, experiencing a malware attack can mean losing your files that cannot be restored. A few examples of malware attacks that can severely damage your website include:
  • Defacements: In a defacement attack, cybercriminals replace content on your website with their own messages. These messages are a kind of digital graffiti that can damage your business’s reputation and cost you revenue.  
  • Ransomware: Ransomware is an attack cybercriminals use to block access to your data, while demanding you pay a set amount to regain access. But even if you pay the ransom, in many cases the data is permanently damaged or never restored at all.
• Natural Disasters: When a natural disaster hits, such as a hurricane, tornado or earthquake, it has the potential to severely damage your computer hardware. If you don’t have a backup and recovery plan, it can take weeks to get your business back up and running.

If website data is lost and there’s no backup, you have the following options as the website owner:

• Hire a web developer to rebuild the site. One option is to hire a web developer to use any unaffected files as a starting point and rebuild the site from there. You will need to find a web developer with the right expertise, which can become expensive depending on how many hours it takes to rebuild the site.  
• Rebuild the site from the ground up. In the worst-case scenario that your website’s database is damaged, you will have no choice but to rebuild the website from scratch. This will require bringing in a third-party, such as a design agency or digital consulting firm, to build your website from the ground up, which can be costly.

Unfortunately, these options will cost you time and money. Not to mention, there can be other expenses for your business. When your website is down during the rebuild, it can be incredibly damaging to your bottom line through lost transactions, customers, and revenue.

Be prepared with website backup

The good news is that by using website backup as part of a comprehensive security strategy, your website can be restored with one-click. You can gain peace of mind in knowing that in the event of a cyberattack, software update failure, or other disaster, your site files and database can be recovered.   

When researching your options, look for a solution that will ensure ease of use, full data recovery by restoring all website files and your database, and offer the best overall security in one place. Here are just a few features to look for:

• One-click backup and restore: This capability allows you to backup and restore your website files with a single click, saving you time and frustration.
• Option for full or partial restore of selected files: In some cases, only certain website files are damaged. For this reason, opt for a solution that allows you to restore only the affected files.
• A full suite of cybersecurity solutions: Be sure to choose a trusted provider that offers WAF, DDoS protection, malware repair, and vulnerability patching in addition to website backups.

Invest in website backup today

Website backup is a critical piece of any business’s disaster recovery plan. By choosing a single trusted security provider that offers a full suite of cybersecurity products, your business will receive even more value, be protected from all fronts, and save time and money. Contact us today to learn more about adding website backup to protect your site.

The Rock Almighty Devotional, Praise, and Worship with Barren Cross

DRAWING NEAR TO GOD THROUGH PRAYER from CDM

Growing up, many of us automatically went to our parents to make requests, get help, and ask for advice and guidance. Our conversations were based on our close, loving relationship with them. When we consider that God loves us so much He’s willing to adopt us as His own children, we should make it a priority to relate to Him in the same way. We can draw closer to our heavenly Father through frequent conversations with Him.

Through His grace, God made a way for us to run to Him, not just when we struggle, but whenever we just want to talk. His Word breaks down the essence and purpose of prayer for us. When we communicate with Him, believing that He’ll answer us, we always receive what we request in His name.

God is always talking to us, but we don’t always listen. If we’re distracted and not attuned to His voice, it’s easy to get confused. Sometimes what seems right isn’t in our best interest. Without consulting Him, we can walk right into trouble.

Just as there are different types of conversations, there is more than one way to talk to God. When we can’t find the words to express what’s in our hearts, He enables us to pray in the spirit. We can pray by meditating on the Scriptures, or even directly with our hearts and minds without saying a single word. God has chosen to keep the lines of communication open between Him and us because of His favor toward us, and it’s up to us to do the same.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, You’ve made a way for us to have personal conversations with You at any time, with no appointment necessary. Your grace allows us to come to You in prayer and speak to You about anything that’s on our hearts and minds. Thank You for this awesome opportunity. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scriptures:

Matthew 7:7-11

Luke 11:9-13

Proverbs 14:12

Ephesians 6:18

Psalm 5:1, 2

Psalm 19:14

For more on how prayer based on the finished works of Jesus Christ establishes a supernatural link between us and God, click on the link for the two DVD-series, The Purpose and Essence of Prayer.

Munroe Global Featuring: How To Pray | Dr. Myles Munroe and Perseverance - The Key To Answered Prayer

Perseverance - The Key To Answered Prayer

By: Rob Marshall

There is a somewhat strange parable in Luke 11. It comes in the middle of some teaching that Jesus is doing in answer to the disciple's request: Lord, teach us to pray. What immediately follows their request is a sample prayer that we now call the Lord's Prayer. In our church we have a time of community prayer every Sunday when we praise God for answers to prayer, and bring our requests to Him as a church. We always conclude that time with the Lord's Prayer. It's a great example of prayer, one of many in the Bible, and we can all learn from applying the principles that Jesus teaches us through it. But right after this model prayer Jesus tells us a parable about a man who is visited by a friend, has nothing to set before him, and who then goes to another friend at midnight to ask for three loaves of bread. I don't know about you, but in my way of thinking, and based on what I've been taught about prayer, this parable seems a little odd. Since Jesus is teaching about prayer, and if we represent the man who gets visited and doesn't have any bread, in other words the one who has a need, then who is represented by the other friend? In other words whom do we go to in prayer when we have a need? As our pastor likes to remind us, the answer that is almost always right in Sunday school and church is: God. God is the one that we go to and in this parable the man who answers from behind his door and tells his needy friend to go away represents God Himself. Now I don't know what you've been taught about prayer, but I don't remember anyone ever telling me that I will go to God with my need and He will say, "I'm in bed, don't bother me, go away." And I have a hard time imagining that God would do that, but that is exactly what Jesus is teaching the disciples. I suppose that I could look for symbolic meaning in all of this and wonder if the problem was that the man waited too long to go to his friend. After all, Jesus didn't say that the visitor came at midnight; all He said was that it was midnight when the man went to his friend. Was it possible that the man created the difficulty, this resistance from God, because he put off going until he had tried everything else first? That's hard to say. But what we do know is that the man goes with a need and gets resistance rather than the assistance he was looking for. James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Maybe James was thinking about this parable when he said that many kinds of trials, perhaps even some resistance from God Himself would test our faith. And he even goes further and tells us that we should consider it all joy, which makes no sense to me. After all, when was the last time that I rejoiced when I received more problems rather than answers to my prayers? The only way we can look at these trials and rejoice in them is if we understand that we need perseverance. As long as our faith can't handle resistance, our faith will always fail. Jesus taught, and James repeats it here, that we need to have perseverance. If our faith can't withstand trials and disappointments, if we allow ourselves to get discouraged and give up, then we have little chance of receiving anything from God. If our faith wavers based on the circumstances we see in front of us, and isn't built on the solid rock of God's word and promises, then we will almost always be disappointed. The problem that I've found is that I tend to blame God. I keep asking Him why He doesn't answer my prayers, and the answer I keep getting back from Him is: "Why won't you believe? Don't you know that all things are possible for the person who believes?" God's goal is to bring us through our trials and help us develop the perseverance to overcome any resistance that we might encounter. The resistance will begin to expose the doubts and fears that we have which will allow us to confront and overcome the lies that are causing them. God understands that the perfecting of our faith is more important than getting the answers to our prayers. It's not that God won't answer our prayers, because He has promised that He will. The truth is that God wants our faith to stand up under any difficulty, in spite of any trial, and in the face of overwhelming problems. He knows that if we will let perseverance finish its work, if we will continue to rejoice in the trials because we understand what He is doing, we will perfect our faith and we will then never lack anything again. The only question we need to ask ourselves is: Are we willing to let perseverance finish its work? If we do, the rewards are exceedingly abundantly beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Then we will finally experience the promise of Psalm 23, "The Lord is my shepherd, I do not lack." The same faith that helped David defeat Goliath is in everyone of us. In "Taking On Goliath - How To Unleash The David In All Of Us," author Rob Marshall shows you how to unleash your faith, overcome any obstacle, and live your dreams.  http://www.TakingOnGoliath.com